Parachute



.15, R. CALTHROP.

PAHACHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.25,19|9

Patented my 6, mm.,

4 SHEETSSHEET l E. R. CALTHROP.

PARACHUTE.

APPL|cAT|oN FILED MAR.25.1919.

1,345,585.25 V Patented July 69 19m,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. R. CALTHRQP. PARACHUTE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.25,;19I9.

Patented July 6, 1920.,

4 SHEETSHEET 3.

Iffarney E. R. CALTHROP.

PARACHUTE.

APPucATloN FILED MAR.25,1919.

l,345,582. Patented July 6 1920.,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

nvnnann Brennan entri-incr., or LoNnoN, ENGLAND, .assrGNon To n. n.` canrnnorfs nearer. rarnn'rs minimun, or LoNnoN, ENeLANn.

Partner-inrit. y

maratea .Application filed March 25. 1919. Serial No. 285,133.

il 'o (LZ 'zn/0111, 'it may come/rn llc it known that i, Evenmin RICHARD thu/rimer, a subject ofthe King of Great Britain, residing at London, in the county of irlifjldlesex, England, have invented nevv and useful improvements Relating to Parachutes, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to parachuteg adapted to be carried byaerial craft to afford means ivhereby the occupant or occupants may descend safely to the ground in case of emergency.

fllile prima-ry object of the present invention is to provide 4improved means forearrying` a parachute upon an aerial craft in such manner that the container therefor shall offer a minimum resistance to the aircurreut in flight and during the launching operation assume Vsucha position as to offer a minimum resistance to theextraction of the parachute and its associated parts irrespective of the speed and position of the aeroplane to the air current created thereby. `Further objects are to provide improved means for mounting the parachute container constitutingl the .launching` device upon. an aerial craft in any desired position Without making' any structural alterations to the fuselage and to provide means for holding said device rigidly in position and for automatically releasing it from its normal position When the load is applied.

ln the accompanying' drawings "Figure l is a diagrammatic view of my improved parachute launching' device illustrating' its application to the upper portion of the fuselage of an aeroplane. y

lig. 2 is an end vieiv of the device mount- `ed atithe side of the fuselage.

Fig. 3 represents a section through the container for the parachute and its associated parts shown in Fig. l.

. Fig. 4t is a similar section of the container illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig". 5 represents a section drawn to a larger scale through a portion of the container illustrated in Fig. 4i and Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of Fig. 5 taken along1 the line a a of that figure.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Figi. Slis a detail view of a part" of the device employed in `connection with the ar- Elpecicaton of Letters Patent.

rangement illustrated in Fig. l and to be hereinafter more fully described.

In that embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. l and 3 the container--ndicated as a Whole by the letter A--is streamlined or approximately torpedo-shaped and formed of tivo parts l and 2 capable of being assembled together by a joint 3 adapted when the load is applied to separate to permit of the launching of the parachute therefrom as hereinafter explained.

The portion l of the container A is adapted to fit into the portion Q to form the pullout joint 3 which is of such a character that it shall be Weather proof and air tight to which end I prefer to arrange a felt packing' ring1 4 on the portion l of the container (Fig. 7) and against which the interior of the mouth of the part 2 wedges tightly when the tivo portions are assembled. A fabric cover attached to the part l overlaps the junction of the tivo parts and effectually renders the oint weather-proof.

rFlic portion A1` of the container' is adapted to receive the plaited and folded parachute body ti which is secured by its apex to said portieri by a detachable or rupturable connection l ivliile within the portion 2 of said container the tapes constituting' the rigging of the parachute are housed. rThe method l adopt of assembling' said parachute and its rigging will be best understood from an inspection oi Fig. 7 which illustrates diagranimatically the relative connections between the parts the tivo portions of the aforesaid container A being shoivn as separated slightly as would happen when the load is first applied to the portion 2 through the center bolt 8 to which the aviator is attached by the usual load rope shock absorber and harness. One of the tapes constitutinnthe rigging;- and arranged in a pack (as f lcscribed in my prior specification No. 21.312 of i914) is indicated by the numeral 9 one end of said tape being positively connected to the portion 2 of the container A. as at 1.0 While the opposite end of said tape is attached to the periphery of the parachute body as at il. by means of a toggle and gromet or other suitable connection.

`The other portion l of the container which it will be understood normally fits into the mouth of the portion 2 carries a ring l2 to which aicord 13 is attached the `parachute there are twenty-four suoli rigging tapes and obviously there will be tweiity-four packs of tape within the portion 2 of the container and twenty-four connections 13 and 1li within'the portion 1 of the container.

v The parts `being assembled as described and the-two portions 1 and 2 of the conv'tainer fitted together it is apparent that means must be provided for retaining the said parts of the container in close and operative relation and this is effected by'the ,rupturable connection preferably of light gage wire 15 (Figs. 3 and Il) which is positively attached by one end to the apex of the portion 1 of the container while the other end is secured to a loop 16 of wire to lwhich the requisite tension may be applied -through the ratchet arrangement 17 illustrated in Figs. 5 and G the operation of V which is self evident without further de- 'npon the upper portion of the fuselage vany aeroplane for which purpose Figs. 1

getlier.

-I will now proceed to a consideration of the means for mounting the container A of and 9 will be particularly referred to. Clamped to the longerons of the fuselage is a bracket 18 to which an arcuate member 19 is secured appropriate connections 2O (which may be yof a character adapted to y be ruptured whenv the weight'of the load is applied to the center bolt or adapted to be severed by an appropriate cutting mechanism) being provided to support that end of the container A which carries said center holt'Sl The opposite or forward end of the container is supported through a universal joint 21 carried by a bar 22 pivotally mounted as at 2withinY the fuselage in such a manner as to be capable of transverse movementthrough a slot 24- in the fairing provided for that purpose. lt will -be seen that by these means the container A is held above the fuselage behind the aviators seat and Vin-order that a descent may be made from either'side of the machine the load rope which is attached by its loop 26 to the aviators harness is bifurcated as at 27 and the two ends laid one on each` side of the container A and positively connected to the center bolt 8. The object of thus bifurcating the load rope is to insure that its main portion shall be so positioned relatively to the container A that it shallalways be in readiness to fall to that side of the 'fuselage from which the aviator jumps.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 9 it will be seen that the forward end of the container is attached by the universal joint 21 to the har 22 and the purpose of this arrangement is to permit of the container A. being swung bodily to either side of the machine as the aviator may select when a descent is to be made and to secure alitoniatic release of the container to allow oli this the load rope is normally supported in a forked member 2S pivotally attached at 29 to the bar 22. The member 2S is provided with a link 30 connected to a plunger 31 engaging a socket 32 positively secured to the fuselage.

It should here be noted that the method of mounting the container as hereinbefore described insures its rigid support when in the normal position this being accomplished as to one end by a joint which is rigid in compression but universal in tension and as to its other end by a rupturable connection adapted to maintain the container normally in compression.

The operation of this form of my invention will now be described. On the aviator throwing` himself from the cock-pit-and it is to be observed that owing to the provision of means just described it is immaterial which side of the fuselage he selects for this purpose the forked member 2S will be turned about its pivotal point to that side of the aeroplane from which he has dived and the plunger 31 will be withdrawn from the socket 32 whereupon owing to the provision i of a rupturable or resilient connection 33 between the load rope 25 and the head of the bar 22 the said bai' will be given an. im-

pulse to begin its travel to the side of the fuselage farrying the front end of the container with it. The weight will now he exerted through the bifurcated load rope 25 to the center bolt 8 the connections 20 will be broken or severed and the continued application of the load will cause the bar 22 to move laterally until checked by the upper longeron so that the container AV projects clear of the sidev of the fuselage and assumes an angular position of least resistance. The full weight being now exerted upon the center bolt 8 and wire 15 this latter will snap and the poi-tion 2 of the container will separate from the portion 1 and in so doing will extend the tapes 9 constituting the rigging to their full length whereupon the periphery of the parachute body will be drawn out of the container in a circle owing to the extension of the cords 13 (Fig. 7) thus insuring entry of sufficient air to the interior of the parachute body to insure its eventual complete expansion. lVhen the cords 13 are extended the weight of the load will be exerted` on the rupturable connections 14 which i `tively expanded by spring members.

interesa the launchingi` device at the'side instead of at the top of the fuselage and in this ar rangement the container is supported at one end by a universal joint from a bracket projectingjll from the side of the fuselage and the other end carrying the center bolt 8 is 'sup- "ported by the bracket 33 by means of a rupturable connection Bel which may be adapted to be broken by the Weight of the load or may be severed by a cutting4 mechanism 35 operated by a connection 36 with the load rope 25 before the Weight of the load is exerted on the center bolt 8. The container will then swing down vertically about the aforesaid universal joint and the parachute launched as above described. 1n this arrangement the usual shock absorber 25a may conveniently be carried Within the fuselage and covered by a stripping piece 25h of fabric so that no additional head resistance shall be created.

In Fig. l I have illustrated a slightly modified form of container adapted for use with parachutes of the kind described in my specification of prior date No. 118859 vvherein the mouth of the parachute is poin this modification the portion l of the container is provided at its interior With a cylindrical portion 37 to provide an appropriate surface for preserving the position of the spring' members described in said prior specification While the parachute is housed in the container. V,

Means may be provided forreturning the empty container to approximately its original position after a descent has been made and this may be effected by a rubber spring 38 attached respectively to the container and to the side of the fuselage and passing over a pulley or guide roller 39. To form a seating for the container when in the normal position a saddle shaped bracket 4:() is provided being secured by a clamp to one of the longerons.

ln the specification forming' part of my application for a patent No. 17062 dated @f'ftober ltth` i918 l have described means for positively opening: the ,Qussets of a parachute as it is launched said means comprisinn" riipturable connections between certain portions of the periphery of the parachute body and the container and in llli. "T of the accompanying.;v drawings 1 have illustrated at fil one of such connections the operation of which Will be understood from the aforesaid prior specification.

ln the foregioing.;` 1mdescription of my invention l have shown and illustrated the container as being carried either on the top or at the side of the fuselage but it is obvious that with slight modifications 'unaffooting` thescope of the invention the container may be mounted in any other desired position such as beneath the fuselage or the Wings of an aeroplane or it may be attached to the under carriage.

The detail view Fi 8 illustrates the method of clamping` the brackets to the longerons said brackets and clamps beine' all constructed of metal plates and arranged edgeivise so as to offer a minimum of head resistance during flight.

W hat l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the lUnited States is:

l. A parachute launching device compris inga tivo-part streamline container Within which the parachute and its associated parts are nested, a universal joint for supporting one end of the container on the fuselage of an air craft and a rupturable connection for supporting' the other end of the container and adapted to maintain the container norinally in position.

2. A parachute launching device compris ing' a tivo part streamline container Within which the parachute and its associated parts are nested, a universal joint for supporting one end of the container on the fuselage of an air craft, a rupturable connection for siipportineF the other end of the container, a center bolt in the container, a load rope for connecting.;` an aviator to the center bolt, and a bifurcated end on said rope.

3. A parachute launching;- device comprising' a two part streamline container Within Which the parachute and its associated parts are nested, a universal joint for supporting one end of the container on the fuselage of an air craft a rupturable connection supporting' the other end of the container a center bolt in the container.y a load rope for connecting' an aviator to the center bolt and a bar pivotally mounted Within the fuselage for supporting the universal joint.

l. AJ parachute launching device comprising' a tivo part streamline container Within which the parachute and its associated parts are nested, a universal joint for supporting one end of the container on the fuselage of an air craft a rupturable connection for supporting the other end of the container. a center bolt in the container. a load rope for connecting` an aviator to the center bolt, a bar pivotally mounted Within the fuselage for supporting` the universal joint and a connection between said bar and the load rope..

5. A parachute launching device comprising a tivo-part streamline container Within which the parachute and its associated parts are housed, a universal joint for supporting'cne end of the container on the fuselage of au air craft, a rupturable connection for supporting' the other end of the container, a center holt in the container, a load rope for connecting an aviator to the center bolt and a forked member for supporting the load rope. Y Y

6. A Vparachute launching` device comprising` a two part streamline container Within which the parachute and its associated parts are housed, a universal joint for supporting` one end of the container en the fuselage of an air craft a rupturalole Connection for sup portingthe other end of the container, a 'center holt in the container a load rope for connecting' an aviator to the center bolt a har pivotally mounted Within the fuselage for supporting lthe universal joint and a forked member for supporting the load rope said member being pivotally attached to the said har.

T. A parachute launching,r device comprisinga two-part streamline container within which the parachute and its associated parts are nested, a universal joint for supporting one end of the container on the fuselage of an air craft, a rupturahle connection for supplying the other end of the container, and a rupturahle connection between the two parts of the container.

S. A parachute launching` device comprisinga two part streamline container within which the parachute and its associated parts are nested, a universal. joint for supportingc one end of the container on the fuselage of an air craft, a rupturahle connection for supporting the -other end of the container and means for returning,r the emptyv Container to its normal position relatively to the fuselage after the parachute has been launched.

EVERARD RICHARD CALTHROP. 

